Locked On NHL - Daily Podcast On The National Hockey League

With the backdrop of the Calgary Flames admitting there’s a problem and rebuilding is the only solution, Mike Asti and Alex Wiederspiel welcome Josh Easthope of LockedOn Flames on this edition of the Game Night crew’s preview series. 

Why was the franchise signing such a different tune six months ago? Where are they now in the rebuild? Who are the key players to watch and who may stick around? Will the market be an obstacle for the Flames in this plan to rebuild? 

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The Chicago Blackhawks ignite hope with Patrick Kane’s emotional return and Connor Bedard’s fresh five-year deal—are the playoffs finally within reach? Eddie Garcia, Shukri Wrights, and Locked on Blackhawks host Jack Bushman assess the Blackhawks’ rapid rebuild, spotlighting Bedard’s injury comeback, Bowen Byram’s high-stakes acquisition, and Spencer Knight’s steady rise in net. The conversation highlights breakout potential from Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell. Key issues include Chicago’s defensive breakdowns, the search for a new captain, and the challenges facing a young, inexperienced blue line. Can GM Kyle Davidson’s bold roster moves and infusion of youth push the Blackhawks out of the NHL basement? Get exclusive insight into Chicago’s retooled lineup, critical offseason decisions, and the roadblocks that could define their 2026-27 season.

00:00 — Blackhawks Season Recap
Last year's performance, progress comparisons, discussion of Connor Bedard's impact and roster youth movement.

11:18 — Offseason Moves & Analysis
Deep dive into Bowen Byram trade/signing, Spencer Knight outlook, defensive concerns, and Patrick Kane's return.

22:50 — Season Outlook & Lineup Projections
Opening night lineup discussion, expectations for Donato, captaincy debate, Bedard's durability, and realistic goals for 2026–27.

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Ross Levitan (Locked On Senators) and Mike DiStefano (Locked On Leafs) break down the Connor Hellebuyck trade saga, Oilers signing Alex Formenton, and Chris Kreider heading to waivers on today's Locked On NHL.

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Minnesota Wild gear up for a serious playoff push despite questions at center. Can Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes elevate this team to true Stanley Cup contender status? Seth Toupal and JD Young break down the Wild’s off-season moves, analyze Jesper Wallstedt’s rise in goal, and debate whether Billy Guerin will pull off a blockbuster to land a top-six forward. Key topics include Blake Coleman’s fit, Brock Faber’s underrated contributions, and why Minnesota’s defensive core sets them apart in the West.

The conversation shifts East as the Montreal Canadiens emerge as a potential powerhouse. With Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov leading the way, are the Canadiens ready to dominate the Atlantic Division’s gauntlet? Plus, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s aging core faces mounting challenges—can Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy keep the dynasty alive or is time finally catching up? Don’t miss expert analysis on the NHL’s rising giants and fading legends.

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The San Jose Sharks arrived. Right? Or... are they still playing the long game? That's part of the debate in San Jose as Macklin Celebrini makes it clear he might not just be a franchise player, but a generational one. But are the rest of the Shark pups ready to join him? JD Young of Locked on San Jose Sharks joins Locked On Game Night to discuss that, the Sharks 2025-26 season, what's ahead, Connor Hellebuyck and much more.

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The New Jersey Devils continued their bold offseason moves by trading a first and second round pick to Nashville for forward Luke Evangelista. 

Zach Berman of Locked On Devils joins us to discuss the trade, what it says about the Devils approach to the season, where he fits into the lineup and whether he makes the Devils a legitimate playoff team. 

The Vancouver Canucks have signed Zeev Buium to an eight-year contract extension. 

Trevor Beggs of Locked On Canucks discusses the impact of Buium's deal and how the addition of Manny Malholtra as coach will impact the team this year as they begin their rebuild. 

The Ottawa Senators have decided how to handle Brady Tkachuk's return to Ottawa but how will the fans respond to him?

Brandon Pillar of Locked On Senators joins us to discuss Tkachuk, the team's offseason moves and their goaltending situation heading into the new season.

All this and more on today's Locked On NHL Podcast with Gil Martin.

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The Dallas Stars face a critical crossroads after another playoff disappointment—can Jason Robertson's contract saga and a thinner roster derail their Cup ambitions? Locked on Dallas Stars host Joey Erickson shines a spotlight on the turbulence surrounding Jim Nill’s offseason moves, the high-stakes Robertson negotiations, and lingering questions about scoring depth and 5-on-5 play.
Hosts Eddie Garcia and Shukri Wrights ask about the impact of losing Maverik Bourque, Jamie Benn’s declining role, and whether Jake Oettinger can anchor Dallas in goal after a rocky season. The conversation highlights the emergence of young talent like Justin Hryckowian, restructured defensive pairings, and how Glenn Gulutzan's system must evolve for the team to break through in the Central Division. With Utah’s rise and Colorado’s potential decline, do the Stars have enough to return to the Western Conference Final—or is another playoff disappointment looming?

00:00: Dallas Stars Season Recap
(Reviewing last season's successes, playoff disappointment, team trends, and head coach changes)

08:33: Jason Robertson Contract Saga
(Deep dive into Robertson's negotiations, impact of prior deals, and roster ramifications)

19:44: Stars Offseason & Roster Outlook
(Discussing player trades, depth concerns, blue line development, and upcoming season predictions)

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The Winnipeg Jets have still not moved goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Today we look at how this trade demand will play out and some of the possible trade destinations for the all-world goalie and what the Jets may get in return for him.

Plus, have the New Jersey Devils quietly had one of the best offseasons of any team in the NHL? We discuss their moves including the recent acquisition of Luke Evangelista and where this leaves the Devils heading into the offseason.

And with the preseason getting shortened to just four games, how will this impact NHL rookies and the importance of rookie games and tournaments? We break down the evolving NHL and how teams will handle these changes.

All this and more on today's Locked On NHL Podcast with Rachel Donner and Gil Martin.

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The Utah Mammoth look to ride playoff momentum into a pivotal season—can Logan Cooley’s breakout and key veteran additions push them into the Central Division’s elite? Eddie Garcia and Shukri Wright and Locked on Mammoth host Tom Callahan spotlight the Mammoth’s first NHL playoff berth, recapping standouts like Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, and 40-goal winger Dylan Guenther. The hosts examine offseason moves including the trade for Vincent Trocheck and signing of Anders Lee, debates on John Marino’s contract extension, and questions surrounding Karel Vejmelka’s heavy workload in net. Prospects Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers could shake up the forward lines, while the evolving roles of Cooley and Guenther tease a dynamic attack. With the Winter Classic against the Colorado Avalanche and a push for a top-three spot in the Central, does Utah have the roster to make noise—or are they still a wild card team to watch?

00:00 Utah Mammoth Season Recap
Hosts discuss Utah Mammoth's 2025-26 playoff season, standout players, and team atmosphere.

11:08 Offseason Moves & Roster Outlook
Deep dive on trades, signings (Trocheck, Lee, Marino), defense and goaltending questions, and projected lineups.

21:16 Prospects & Season Predictions
Analysis of young talents (Iginla, Desnoyers), lineup battles, Central Division outlook, and Winter Classic expectations.

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Who are the top 10 defensemen in the NHL entering the 2026-27 season? On this episode of Locked On NHL, Nick Zararis (Locked On Oilers) and Hunter Hodies (Locked On Penguins) break down their definitive player rankings ahead of the new campaign. They start with some honorable mentions who didn't make the cut before getting into their lists, and there are some differences. 

Where do Hunter and Nick have Miro Heiskanen ranked? What about Rasmus Dahlin? Are there any newcomers to their lists from last year? Does one of them put Quinn Hughes ahead of Cale Makar? All that, plus much more, is on this edition of Locked On NHL.

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